Humidity modifying and heat conserving means



s. J. B ENN 2,445,102 HUMIDITY MODIFYING AND HEAT CONSERVING BANS July13, 1948.

Filed Nov. 26, 1943 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 '(Ittornegs July 13,1948. 5. J.BE-NN 2,445,102

HUMIDITY MODIFYING AND HEAT CONSERVING MEANS Filed Nov. 26, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Zmventor latented July 13,1948 1 UNITED STATES P en AHUMIDITY MODIFYING AND HE AT CONSERVING MEANS Stephen J. Benn,Philadelphia, Pa. Application November 26, 1943, Serial No. 511,863 I 8Claims. (Cl. 236-44) This invention relates to humidity modifying Q andheat conserving means particularly adapted to controlling the humidityin cellars, basements, or other rooms or compartments having a poorcirculation of air.

It is a well known fact that deterioration in buildings is greatest incellars and basements, and that this is due to poor ventilation withconsequent deposit and accumulation of moisture on the structuralelements. This is particularly true in summer time when the temperatureof such places is much lower than that of the outside atmosphere whichis more or less ladenv with moisture. Consequently, as this humid airenters the cellar or basement, the moisture is precipit'ated oraccumulates upon the walls and other portions, which results in rapiddeterioration, molding and decay. This is also true to a degree in otherseasons of the year, depending largely upon the relative climaticconditions.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for modifyingthe atmospheric conditions in the cellar or basement either tosubstantially equalize the temperature with that of the outsideatmosphere, as in summer time, or to maintain a circulation ofcomparatively dry air in other seasons, so as to prevent the deposit ofmoisture, as above mentioned.

A further object of this invention is to utilize the heating apparatususually installed in the cellar or basement for accomplishing the abovestated purposes, by equipping the same with a comparatively inexpensiveattachment. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposementioned which will not only maintain proper atmospheric conditionsin-the cellar, but which will also conserve heat,

and thereby fuel, by utilizing a large portion of the heat from theheating apparatus which is usually dissipated up the flue and lost.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a device for the purposesstated which shall be of such construction and arrangement of parts thatit may serve to augment the heating of the water for the domestichot-water storage heater with which practically all modern dwellings areequipped.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view, this invention consists generally inproviding a drum about a heated conduit which derives its heat from aheating unit installed in the cellar, and having means associated withsaid drum for circulating the air of the cellar through said drum andthen discharging the heated and dried air into the cellar.

The heated unit mentioned may be either a section of the flue pipeleading from the main heater to the chimney, which may be utilizedduring the colder seasons; or a hot water conduit in circulatory,connection with the domestic heater, which may be used during the-summer. Preterably, I combine both in one unitary construction wherebythe device will be operable for the purposes designated throughout allseasons of the year, and when the general heating plant is in operation,the device will serve to augment the heating of the domestic water forthe storage heater, thereby conserving fuel used for heatin the latter.

The invention further consists in a device as mentioned, equipped withmeans for automatically setting the same into operation by the,prevailing conditions of heat or humidity, or both.

The invention further consists in various arrangements and combinationsof parts, all as will be fully described hereinafter and particularlyset forth in the appended claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the invention in one example ofembodiment.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of a modified and simplified form of theinvention.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig- I ure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 indicates the heater unit of a heatingplant having the usual flue pipe 6 connecting said unit with a chimney,not shown; and i indicates a domestic hot water storage heater withwhich the majority of modem dwellings are equipped. Interposed in theflue pipe, hereinafter designated as the flue," is the device embodyingthe invention.

In the former the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a portionof the flue is replaced by a similar tubular flue section 8 having awater jacket 9 which in turn is surrounded by a drum l0 providing an airspace Ii. The water jacket 9 and drum iii are preferably coextensive inlength, and their ends are closed by walls "-12 spaced inwardly from theends of the flue section 8. The projecting ends l3 of the flue section 8thus formed provide means for attaching the adjacent ends of the fluepipe 6, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The flue section 8 and its surrounding water Jacket 9 and air drum IIIare preferaby inclined,

with theend remote from the heater being the higher, and above the levelof the top of the domestic water heater. Extending from the domesticwater heater I to the upper end of the water'jacket 9 is an inlet pipei4, and from the lower end of the water jacket a return pipe I5 isprovided for completing the circuit between the heater I and the jacket.By this arrangement, a circulation 01 hot water is maintained throughthe jacket 9 when the domestic hot water heater is in operation, and theair in the drum II is heated therefrom.

In order to utilize the heated air in the drum l9 for'the purposes ofthis invention, means for producing a forced draft therethrough isprovided, and also means for directing the heated air where needed. Tothis end the drum is provided adjacent one end with a housing l6communicating with the air space H and having its outer end open to thecellar. Within the housing is a fan i'l actuated by a motor l8. At theopposite end of the drum from the fan housing II is a pair of dischargeopenings defined by collars i9 and 20 extending upwardly and downwardly,respectively. Each discharge opening is provided with a control damper2| and 22, respectively, mounted on their transverse axes and equippedwith actuating arms 23 and 24 connected by a link 25, so arranged thatas one damper is opened, the other damper is closed,

. so that the dried and heated air may be directed upwardly toward theceiling rafters or downwardly toward the floor. If desired, the dampersmay be adjusted to discharge the hot air simultaneously from bothopenings and in the desired proportions. If preferred, the upper collari9 may be connected to a pipe 26 leading to a remote part of the cellar,or to another compartment or room in the cellar, or to the floor above.A

screen 21 may be provided at the outer open end of the fan housing forobvious reasons.

Means are provided for automatically closing and opening the circuit tothe fan according to the conditions prevailing in the cellar. To thisend a thermostat 28 is provided in the circuit and extended into theflue section 8. This thermostatic control is set to operate a switch 29when the flue gases reach a desired temperature; from 80 to 100 F, beingfound satisfactory. Obviously, this thermostatic control 28-49 is foruse in cold weather when the general heating plant 5 is in use. At suchtimes, when the flue gases reach the temperature to which the thermostatis set, the circuit to the fan motor I8 is closed and the fan will drawin the air from the cellar through the outer open end of the housing i6and force it through the air jacket space H to the discharge openings[9-20 from which it may be directed as desired by adjusting the dampers2l--22. As the domestic water heater is always supplied with hot storagewater, this hot water will continuously circulate through the waterjacket 9, heating the air in the drum II. In cold weather, when theheater 5 is in operation, the water in the jacket 9 and the air in thespace I I, also, are heated by the stack or flue gases, which isparticularly desirable at such times.

In warm weather, when the heater 5 is not in operation, the heating anddrying of the air is accomplished solely by the heat from the hot waterjacket 9, and it will bev obvious that other means than the thermostat28 must be provided for automatically opening and closing the circuit tothe fan. To this end it is preferable to arrange in the circuit of thefan motor, a switch actuated by a humidostat located in the cellar, andanother switch actuated by a thermostat sensitive to the outsidetemperature so that the fan will be started whenever an excess ofhumidity is present in the cellar; or when the outside temperaturevaries sufiiciently from the cellar temperature to produce conditionswhereby moisture may be deposited. The first is to cure a conditionwhich exists; the second is largely a preventative. While it isdesirable to equip the system with both means of control, it is obviousthat either may be used alone and the other omitted.

In the drawings, 30 indicates the humidostat controlled switch and ii,the thermostatic switch, the bulb or sensitive portion 32 of which isarranged outside the building. As the switches Ill and 3| are used attimes when the switch 29 is not operable, and vice versa, a selectorswitch 33 is provided in the power line 34 whereby either the switch 29or switches 30 and 3| may be thrown into the fan motor circuit. While acircuit is illustrated for accomplishing this end, any other arrangementof the circuit may be used as found desirable. It is believed that theoperation of the device will be obvious from the above description.

In Figures 4 and 5 is illustrated a modified form of the inventionwherein the water jacket 9 is omitted. In this form, the drum 35 ismounted directly on the flue section 36 without the interposition of thewater jacket, so that the air in the space 31 is heated directly fromthe flue section.

, The drum is provided with the housing 38 and fan 39 as in the firstdescribed form, and the fan. is controlled by the thermostat 40projectingthrough the drum into the flue section as illustrated. As thefan circulates the air rapidly through the restricted air space 31 inclose contact with the flue section, a great amount of heat is impartedto the air, which may be ejected from the lower outlet 4| into thecellar or may be driven through upper outlet 42 and the pipe 43 intoanother compartment of the cellar or into a room on a floor above, thusconserving a large amount of heat that would otherwise be lost.

Various modifications and changes in the herein disclosed structure mayoccur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, andthe invention should be considered as limited only by the spirit andscope defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a humidity modifying and heat conserving means for basements, afiue section, a water jacket and an air drum surrounding said fiuesection, a storage hot water heater, means for connecting said waterjacket in circulatory communication with said storage hot water heater,means at one end of said drum for forcing air from the basementtherethrough to heat and dry said air, said'drum being provided adjacentthe opposite end with a pair of discharge openings, a damper for each ofsaid openings, and means connecting said dampers whereby upon openingone damper the other will be closed.

2. In a humidity modifying and heat conserving means for basements, aflue section, a water jacket and an air drum surrounding said fluesection, a storage hot water heater, means for connecting said waterjacket in circulatory communication with said storage hot water heater,means at one end of said drum for forcing air from the basementtherethrough to heat and hot water heater, means for connecting saidwater jacket in circulatory communication with said storage hot waterheater, means at one end of said drum for forcing air from the basementtherethrough to heat and dry the air, said drum being provided adjacentthe opposite end with a v discharge opening leading back into thebasement, and means automatically responsive to a demand for relief ofhumidity in the basement for actuating said air forcing means.

4. In a humidity modifying and heat conserving means for basements, aflue section, a water jacket and an air drum surrounding said fluesection, a storage hot water heater, means for connecting said waterjacket in circulatory communication with said storage hot. water heater,

a fan for forcing air through said drum, said drum having an outlet,means adapted to be actuated by the temperature within said flue sectionfor controlling said fan, means adapted to be actuated by the humidityin the basement, and other means controlled by the outside temperaturefor controlling said fan, and selective means for connecting the flrstsaid controlling means or the. last two said controlling means to theactuating means forthe fan.

5. In a humidity modifying and heat conserving means for basements, aflue section, a. water jacketand an air drum surrounding said fluesection, a storage hot water heater, means for connecting said waterjacket in circulatory communication with said storage hot water heater,a, fan for forcing air through said drum, 0. motor for said fan, acircuit for said-motor, a switch in said circuit, a thermostat in saidflue section for actuating said switch, a second switch in the air cuitactuated by the humidity in the basement, a thermostatic switch actuatedby the outside temperature, and a selective switch for connecting eitherthe flrst said switch or the two last mentioned switches in the circuitto the motor.

6. In a humidity modifying and heat conserving means for basements, aflue section, a water jacket and an air drum surrounding said fluesection, a storage hot water heater, means for connecting said waterjacket in circulatory communication with said storage hot water heater,a fan for forcing air through said drum, a motor for said fan, a circuitfor said motor. a switch in said circuit, a thermostat in said fluesection for actuating said switch, a second switch in the circuitactuated by the humidity in the basement,

- and a selective switch for connecting either the first said switch orthe second switch in the circuit to the motor.

'7. In a humidity modifying and heat conserving means for basements, aflue section, a water jacket and an air drum surrounding said fluesection, a storage hot water heater, means for'connecting said waterjacket in circulatory com munication with said storage hot water heater,a fan for forcing air through said drum, a motor for said fan, a circuitfor said motor, a switch in said circuit, a thermostat in said fluesection for actuating said switch, a thermostatic switch actu-- ated bythe outside temperature, and a selectiveswitch for connecting either thefirst said switch or the thermostatic switch in the circuit-to themotor.

8. A heater unit having a flue pipe and a domastic storage water heater,in combination with a water jacket and an air drum surrounding a sectionof said flue pipe, said flue section, water jacket and air drum beinginclined upwardly and located within a compartment of a building, an

inlet pipe connecting the storage heater with the upper end of saidwater jacket, a return pipe from the lower portion of said jacket tosaid stor-' age heater, a motor driven fan for forcing air through saiddrum, a motor for said fan,;a switch controlling the circuit to saidfan, and means actuated by the atmospheric conditions outside saidbuilding for operating said switch.

9. In apparatus device of the class'desc'ribed, a

flue section, a water jacket and an air drum surrounding said fluesection, a storage hot water heater. means for connecting said waterjacket in circulatory communication with said storage water heater, ahousing on said drum adjacent one end' thereof and open at its outerend, a motor driven fan in said housing, the opposite end of said drumfrom said housing having a pair of discharge openings, a conduitleading, from one of said openings, a damper for each of said openings,and means connecting said dampers whereby when one damper is opened theother will be closed.

STEPHEN J. BENN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

